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Meet THe Team
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Exceptional, unforgettable main characters are the heart of any great story. Think of Matilda from Roald Dahl's Matilda, with her quiet brilliance and mischievous spirit, or the lesser-known but unforgettable Tomato Rodriguez, the bisexual, motorcycle-riding "lovable dirtbag" from Erika Lopez's Flaming Iguanas. These characters captivate us and keep the pages turning. In this class, we will explore how to craft deeply compelling main characters, delving into their motivations, desires, and quirks. We'll draw inspiration from the works of Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Junauda Petrus, and Sinclair Sexsmith, examining their techniques for bringing characters fully to life.
This class is designed for writers who want their protagonists to leap off the page with vibrant energy. Be prepared to write character-driven pieces such as spiritual manifestos, personal introduction letters, and lively, authentic dialogue—all aimed at honing your own "main character magic."
• In-Class Writing Lift: Medium
• Homework: Optional
• Workshopping Drafts: Optional
Gabby Rivera is a Bronx-born queer Puerto Rican babe on a mission to create the wildest, most fun stories ever. Gabby is the first Latina ever to write for Marvel comics, penning the solo series AMERICA about America Chavez, a portal-punching queer Latina powerhouse. Gabby’s critically acclaimed debut novel Juliet Takes a Breath was called “f*cking outstanding” by Roxane Gay and was re-published by Penguin Random House in 2019.
Gabby presented before the United Nations in 2020 as an invited speaker to their Unstereotyping Alliance Conference, and she has collaborated with groups such as the Ford Motor Company, the Makers Women’s Conference and Somos Familia, to uplift joyful storytelling and the magic of queer diasporicans everywhere.
In 2022, Gabby became a Sundance Screenwriters Fellow and received an Advancing Justice Award from Catalyst California, alongside activist Dolores Huerta. She currently resides on the West Coast.
Gabby is new to The Porch. Welcome!
